Annals Of Work Exposures and Health最新文献

{"title":"Assessing PAH exposure during construction work of railroad switches using creosote-impregnated ties.","authors":"Jessika Hagberg, Håkan Westberg, Bo Strandberg, Christian Lindh, Ing-Liss Bryngelsson, Pål Graff","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag088","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The toxicological effects of creosote are primarily attributed to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and related compounds. This study aimed to assess worker exposure by measuring PAHs in the breathing zone using full-shift air samples, urinary concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP), and dermal exposure through a tape stripping technique. Air sampling was conducted during a work shift on Day 4 (Thursday) of the work week, while urine and dermal samples were collected both before and after the shift on the same day. Additional urine samples were collected at the beginning of the week. Measured concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs identified by the US EPA ranged from 120,000 to 280,000 ng/m3 in the breathing zones of workers handling creosote-impregnated ties. Pyrene concentrations on skin surfaces varied from 0.31 to 140 ng/cm2, with the highest concentrations found on palms and calves. Urinary concentrations of 1-HP increased over the course of the week, ranging from 1.9 to 17 µmol/mol creatinine, indicating substantial variation in individual exposure levels. Workers constructing railroad switches with creosote-treated ties showed elevated urinary 1-HP concentrations during the work week, with most exceeding the British biological monitoring guidance value by Day 4. Dermal uptake was identified as the dominant exposure route using a physiologically based toxicokinetic model. Furthermore, pyrene was detected on skin areas covered by protective clothing, indicating that PAHs can penetrate fabric and that secondary exposure from contaminated work clothes is likely. These findings underscore the need for improved preventive measures to reduce dermal exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13671403/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149190868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Classification of musculoskeletal pain severity in the Constances cohort: a latent class analysis.","authors":"Gwladys Morvan, Julie Bodin, Natacha Fouquet, Hanifa Bouziri, Fabien Gilbert, Marc Fadel, Marie-Eve Major, Yves Roquelaure","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Severe forms of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) with functional and occupational consequences are of growing concern in the context of an aging workforce and longer working lives. This study aimed to define a classification of MSP severity in the French population and to examine associations between MSP severity and sociodemographic characteristics and lifetime occupational biomechanical exposures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted cross-sectional analyses in the Constances cohort, among participants aged 45 years and older. Symptom duration of MSP in 6 body regions, functional limitations and job loss/early retirement due to MSP were self-reported. Latent class analysis was performed separately for men and women. The resulting classification was described according to sociodemographic characteristics and 3 lifetime occupational biomechanical exposures, and its association with these variables was estimated using multinomial logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 74,581 participants (35,919 men and 38,662 women) were included. Four classes were identified for men and women: \"Absence of MSP\" (men = 51.4%; women = 41.3%), \"Subacute MSP without functional limitations\" (24.4%; 27.7%), \"Chronic MSP with moderate functional limitations\" (14.2%; 16.8%), and \"Permanent MSP with severe functional limitations and occupational consequences\" (10.0%; 14.2%). Compared with the \"Absence of MSP\" class, the \"Permanent MSP with severe functional limitations and occupational consequences\" class was associated with lifetime occupational biomechanical exposures: forceful work/manual handling of loads (men: OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.48 to 1.79; women: 1.31, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.45), strenuous postures (1.67, 1.51 to 1.85; 1.67, 1.56 to 1.79), and mechanical vibrations (1.59, 1.44 to 1.75; 1.61, 1.44 to 1.81). Similar associations were observed for the other MSP severity classes, except for mechanical vibrations, which were not associated with the \"Chronic MSP with moderate functional limitations\" class among women.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study defined a classification of MSP severity based on symptom duration, functional limitations, and occupational consequences. Four classes were identified in both men and women, describing a progressive gradient of severity. The most severe class, comprising 10% of men and 14% of women, was associated with each of the 3 lifetime occupational biomechanical exposures. These findings provide quantitative data on the different forms of MSP and on the populations most affected by the severe forms.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fluid balance during hot-dry and warm-humid heat stress while adhering to occupational hydration recommendations.","authors":"Xiujing Zhao, Cory L Butts, Zachary J McKenna, Wen-Juo Lo, Shawn C Wierick, Rosie I Perez, Brendon P McDermott","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Current National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) hydration recommendations advise consuming approximately 237 mL of water every 15 to 20 min during work in the heat to limit body mass loss (BML) to <2%. However, whether fluid balance differs between hot-dry (HD) and warm-humid (WH) environments when workers adhere to these recommendations remains unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated fluid balance during simulated work in HD and WH conditions while following the prescribed hydration strategy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty healthy adults (10 females; 24 ± 5 y) completed 2 randomized crossover trials consisting of 120 min of moderate-intensity intermittent walking (338 W) under HD (40.6 °C, 20% relative humidity [RH], wet-bulb globe temperature [WBGT] of 29.3 °C), and WH (30 °C, 80% RH, WBGT of 28.3 °C) conditions. Participants consumed 237 mL of cold water every 20 min. Outcomes included body mass change, whole-body sweat rate (WBSR), net fluid balance, hydration efficiency, hydration biomarkers, thirst sensation, rectal temperature, and heart rate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No participant exceeded the 2% BML threshold. WBSR was greater in HD than WH (0.53 ± 0.13 versus 0.35 ± 0.10 L/h, P < 0.001). Conversely, body mass gain (1.1 ± 0.5 versus 0.6 ± 0.4%), net fluid balance (0.70 ± 0.27 versus 0.40 ± 0.26 L), and hydration efficiency (48.9 ± 19.3 versus 28.2 ± 18.0%) were greater in WH (all P < 0.001). Hydration biomarkers and thirst sensation did not differ between conditions (all P > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Current NIOSH hydration recommendations prevented >2% BML during moderate-intensity work in both HD and WH environments; however, the prescribed fixed-volume hydration strategy resulted in positive fluid balance and body mass gain, indicating that it overprescribed fluid intake under the conditions examined. Future occupational hydration recommendations should consider environmental conditions and individual fluid requirements rather than relying solely on a universal fixed-volume strategy. Ad libitum drinking may also represent an acceptable alternative for maintaining hydration during occupational heat exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of respirable dust concentrations between gravimetric weighing and real-time dust monitoring equipment in non-mining industries.","authors":"Mathokone Jonas Shai, Lerato Perseverence Sebola, Hlologelo Ramatsoma, Karen Louise Du Preez, Jeanneth Manganyi, Monica Magdalena Young","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxag086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gravimetric weighing remains the gold standard for mass concentration assessments; however, real-time (RT) instruments offer advantages such as immediate feedback and temporal resolution. This study evaluated the comparability of Nanozen DustCount 9000 RT measurements with its gravimetric weighing in non-mining industrial environments.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Task-based stationary sampling was conducted at 11 sites in the Gauteng Province, South Africa, producing 20 paired gravimetric and RT measurements. RT outputs were analyzed as raw (RT) and density-adjusted (adjusted-RT) values. Comparability was assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Bland-Altman analysis, and regression of proportional bias.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences were observed between gravimetric and RT (P = 0.067) or gravimetric and adjusted-RT (P = 0.277). Bias increased with higher concentrations, but measurements below 1 mg/m3 showed no significant proportional bias (gravimetric versus RT: R2 = 0.06, P = 0.34; gravimetric versus adjusted-RT: R2 = 0.02, P = 0.59).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The RT measurements demonstrated close correspondence with gravimetric results obtained from the Nanozen DustCount 9000 built-in filter cassette, particularly at concentrations below 1 mg/m3, suggesting this threshold as a cutoff point for reliable agreement.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field verification of ventilation performance and driver-area isolation in a purpose-modified taxi for transporting patients with infectious disease.","authors":"Hiroko Kitamura, Yo Ishigaki, Akira Saito, Shinji Yokogawa","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag064","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, taxis were used to transport patients with mild symptoms; however, quantitative field evidence on ventilation performance and driver-area isolation in modified taxis remains limited. We conducted a field demonstration experiment to evaluate a purpose-modified taxi under real driving conditions: approximately constant-speed driving (55 km/h) and variable-speed driving. Rear-cabin ventilation was assessed using carbon dioxide (CO2) tracer-gas decay, and compartmental isolation was evaluated using particle measurements. Estimated air changes per hour were 33.8 h-1 during constant-speed driving and 44.8 h-1 during variable-speed driving. Rear-cabin CO2 concentrations exceeded 8,000 ppm immediately after tracer release in both runs, while front-cabin CO2 concentrations remained near background levels. Rear-cabin particle counts exceeded 12,000 counts per minute (cpm) in both runs, while front-cabin counts remained ≤15 cpm, corresponding to ≤0.12% of rear-cabin peak levels. Under the tested configuration, the modified taxi achieved high rear-cabin ventilation while maintaining strong driver-area isolation. This paired field-verification approach may support practical evaluation of exposure-control measures in purpose-modified passenger transport vehicles.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148838942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Task-based transient volatile organic compounds exposure during tanker loading and unloading among hazardous chemical transport workers in South Korea.","authors":"Doo-Young Kim, Dae-Sung Lim","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag078","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hazardous chemical transport workers may experience task-specific transient exposure that is not adequately characterized by conventional time-weighted average (TWA) exposure assessment during tanker loading and unloading operations. This study evaluated occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals among transport workers during actual tanker loading and unloading operations using both conventional personal sampling and real-time volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring. Field exposure assessments were conducted during 9 loading and unloading operations at 2 workplaces. Loading and unloading activities were classified into 3 work stages: hose connection, chemical transfer, and hose disconnection. Personal exposure was assessed using both active and passive sampling methods, while transient VOC concentrations were evaluated using real-time monitoring. Personal exposure levels measured by conventional sampling were generally low or non-detectable and remained below applicable occupational exposure limits. In contrast, real-time monitoring revealed repeated transient increases in VOC concentrations during hose disconnection, with peak concentrations exceeding 2,500 ppb during phenol loading, approximately 1,200 ppb during xylene loading, and approximately 16,000 ppb during toluene loading. Although these transient peaks did not exceed the applicable short-term exposure limits, they demonstrated short-duration exposure events that were not adequately reflected by TWA measurements. These findings indicate that hose disconnection represents a critical exposure task during tanker loading and unloading operations and highlight the value of task-based exposure assessment for identifying transient exposure events. Engineering controls to reduce residual chemical release, together with appropriate personal protective equipment management, should be considered to improve occupational exposure management for hazardous chemical transport workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148966300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shift work, headache, and migraine in a large cohort of Dutch nurses.","authors":"Tara van der Grinten, Sylvia H J Jochems, Flora van Leeuwen, Michael Schaapveld, Hans Kromhout, Roel Vermeulen, Jelle Vlaanderen, Susan Peters","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag080","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Shift work is common in healthcare and may contribute to headache disorders through mechanisms such as circadian disruption and sleep disturbance. However, evidence from large prospective cohort studies remains limited. This study investigated the associations between shift work and headache and migraine in a cohort of Dutch nurses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants completed questionnaires in 2011 (n = 59,768) and 2017 (n = 37,713), reporting headache, migraine, work history, sleep problems, and lifestyle factors. Headache and migraine were assessed using the validated Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) and ID-Migraine questionnaires. Associations between shift work and the prevalence of headache or migraine at baseline and follow-up were examined using Poisson regression with robust variance to directly estimate relative risks. Additional analyses examined current shift work status and shift work duration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ever shift work was associated with a higher prevalence of headache at baseline (relative risk = 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.07), although this association attenuated after adjustment for sleep problems (relative risk = 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.98 to 1.04). For migraine, ever shift work was associated with a higher prevalence at follow-up (relative risk = 1.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.26), whereas no association was found at baseline. Current shift work was not consistently associated with headache or migraine.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Ever shift work was associated with a small increase in the prevalence of migraine. Associations with headache attenuated after adjustment for sleep problems. No consistent associations were observed for current shift work.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13579698/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148975717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of personal exposure and spatial concentration variability in a small-scale chemical laboratory.","authors":"Ryota Muta, Toshiaki Yamashita","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag082","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure assessment in chemical laboratories is often conducted using area-based measurements; however, the extent to which such measurements represent actual personal exposure remains uncertain. In Japan, chemical risk management has traditionally relied on the regulatory working environment measurement system, in which area concentrations are evaluated using fixed-point sampling. As part of recent regulatory changes, personal exposure measurements will become mandatory from October 2026, highlighting the need to clarify the adequacy and limitations of conventional area-based measurements in laboratory environments. In this study, the relationship between area concentrations obtained by area measurements and personal exposure levels during student experiments conducted in a small-scale chemical laboratory was investigated. Field measurements were conducted during the same experiments in 2024 and 2025. Area concentrations were measured at fixed locations, whereas personal exposure levels were evaluated for students using passive samplers. The results showed that personal exposure concentrations were consistently higher than area concentrations, with mean values approximately one order of magnitude greater in both years. In addition, computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted to analyze the concentration distributions within the laboratory. The numerical analysis demonstrated height-dependent concentration variability that cannot be captured by fixed-point measurements at a single height. These findings suggest that area-based measurements alone may be insufficient for accurately evaluating personal exposure in small-scale chemical laboratories.</p>","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reply to Letter to the Editor regarding \"Recommended flow rate of the aluminum cyclone for improved exposure assessment\".","authors":"Sena Yang, Martin Harper, Emanuele Cauda, Taekhee Lee","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag069","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag069","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Letter to the Editor.","authors":"Göran Lidén","doi":"10.1093/annweh/wxag066","DOIUrl":"10.1093/annweh/wxag066","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8362,"journal":{"name":"Annals Of Work Exposures and Health","volume":"70 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148886277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}